Indiana Suspects Can Now Face Murder Charges for Unborn Child If Mother Is Injured or Killed

On Sunday, Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana signed a bill that will allow Indiana prosecutors to charge suspects for murder if they harm a pregnant woman and the unborn child dies.

“SB 203 was signed into law by Governor Eric Holcomb on Sunday. The bill allows prosecutors to seek a charge of murder, voluntary manslaughter, involuntary manslaughter and feticide if a fetus is killed in any stage of development,” reports WKTR.

The law, which will take effect in July, will not apply to legally acquired abortions.

The move to change the law in this way came about when a concerned citizen reached out to her congressperson after the death of her teenage daughter. Jennifer Lee’s 11-weeks-pregnant daughter, Brittany, was shot and killed while purchasing a TV, according to WKTR.

Lee was frustrated that the killer could not be tried for the death of her grandaughter and sent a letter to each member of the Indiana state legislature: 150 letters in all. Her letter won over senator Aaron Freeman who drafted the bill.

The new law will obviously not apply to her daughter’s case, but Lee has expressed satisfaction that some suspects will face consequences in the future in similar incidents.

is managing editor at RELEVANT Media Group. He holds a B.A. in Practical Theology and an M.A. in Theology with an emphasis in Biblical Languages. He's passionate about music, faith, racial justice, and social change. You can find him on Twitter @andrehenry, and more of his writing at http://andrerhenry.com